Computer enclosure

ABSTRACT

A computer enclosure includes a cage ( 1 ) and a cover ( 5 ) attached on the cage. The cage is integrally formed from a single sheet of metallic material, and includes a side panel ( 10 ), a front panel ( 20 ) and a rear panel ( 30 ). The side panel has a projecting portion ( 12 ) extending outwardly from a front portion thereof. The projecting portion defines locking openings ( 14 ). The front panel includes a top flange ( 21 ), a bottom flange ( 22 ), and a side flange ( 23 ). The rear panel defines locking slots ( 32 ). The cover includes a side board ( 50 ), a top board ( 60 ), and a bottom board ( 70 ). The side board forms side hooks ( 52   a ) engaging in the locking openings, and tabs ( 54 ) engaging in the locking slots. The top board forms top hooks ( 52   b ) engaging with the top flange, and the bottom board forms bottom hooks ( 52   c ) engaging with the bottom flange.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to computer enclosures, andparticularly to computer enclosures which are readily assembled and canprevent electromagnetic interference (EMI).

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] With current widespread use of personal computers, the demand formore and varied functions is unrelentingly high. It is thus frequentlynecessary to upgrade a mainframe of a computer, such as by way ofexpanding memory of the mainframe or adding electrical components to themainframe. For conveniently adding or replacing electrical components, acomputer enclosure needs to be able to be opened, closed, assembled ordisassembled as quickly and conveniently as possible.

[0005] A conventional computer enclosure comprises a cage and a cover.The cage comprises a front panel, a rear panel, a side panel and abottom panel. The front panel, the rear panel, the side panel and thebottom panel are separately manufactured and attached together withrivets. The cover is attached to the cage. The cover comprises a topplate opposite from the bottom panel of the cage, and a side plateopposite from the side panel of the cage.

[0006] Using rivets to assemble the cage is unduly laborious andtime-consuming. Furthermore, the front panel, the rear panel, the sidepanel and the bottom panel are separately manufactured. Gaps invariablyexist between the respective adjoining panels. Therefore, the computerenclosure does not prevent EMI.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide acomputer enclosure which has a cage integrally formed from a singlesheet of metallic material.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a computerenclosure which minimizes EMI.

[0009] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a computer enclosure inaccordance with the present invention comprises a cage and a cover. Thecage is integrally formed from a single sheet of metallic material. Thecage comprises a side panel, a front panel, and a rear panel. The sidepanel has a projecting portion extending outwardly from a front portionthereof. The projecting portion defines a plurality of locking openings.The front panel comprises a top flange, a bottom flange, and a sideflange. The rear panel defines a plurality of locking slots. The covercomprises a side board, a top board, and a bottom board. The side boardforms a plurality of side hooks in a front portion thereof, and a pairof tabs in a rear portion thereof. The top board forms a pair of tophooks, and the bottom board forms a pair of bottom hooks. A top bentplate depends from the top board, and a bottom bent plate extendsupwardly from the bottom board.

[0010] In assembly, the cage is placed in front of the cover and thenpushed rearwardly to cause the side hooks to engage in the correspondinglocking openings and the tabs to engage in the locking slots. The tophooks of the cover sandwich the top flange with the top board. Thebottom hooks sandwich the bottom flange with the bottom board. A rivetis extended through the top bent plate and a top portion of the sideflange. Another rivet is extended through the bottom bent plate and abottom portion of the side flange. Rivet joints are thus formed betweenthe cover and the cage.

[0011] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will be drawn from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a computer enclosure inaccordance with the present invention, with parts of a cover thereof cutaway for clearer illustration;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cage of the computer enclosureof FIG. 1, but viewed from another aspect;

[0014]FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 1; and

[0015]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a computer enclosure in accordancewith the present invention comprises a cage 1 and a cover 5.

[0017] The cage 1 is integrally stamped from a single sheet of metallicmaterial. The cage 1 comprises a side panel 10 for supporting amotherboard (not shown) thereon, a front panel 20, and a rear panel 30.The side panel 10 has a projecting portion 12 stamped outwardly from afront portion thereof. The projecting portion 12 comprises an extendingplate 12 a extending perpendicularly outwardly from a front edge of theside panel 10, and a connect plate 12 b extending perpendicularlyforwardly from an outmost edge of the extending plate 12 a. A pluralityof vertically spaced locking openings 14 is defined in the extendingplate 12 a adjacent the connect plate 12 b.

[0018] The front panel 20 extends perpendicularly from a front edge ofthe connect plate 12 b of the projecting portion 12. Free edges of thefront panel 20 are bent perpendicularly rearwardly to form a top flange21, a bottom flange 22, and a side flange 23. A pair of first throughholes 24 is defined near top and bottom extremities of the side flange23 respectively.

[0019] The rear panel 30 extends perpendicularly from a rear edge of theside panel 10. A pair of spaced locking slots 32 is defined near a sideedge of the rear panel 30 adjacent the side panel 10. A pair of firstthrough apertures 34 is defined in opposite sides of a top portion ofthe rear panel 30. A first through bore 36 is defined in a bottomportion of the rear panel 30, near a side edge of the rear panel 30 thatis distal from the side panel 10.

[0020] The cover 5 is integrally stamped from a single sheet of metallicmaterial. The cover 5 comprises a side board 50, a top board 60extending from a top edge of the side board 50, and a bottom board 70extending from a bottom edge of the side board 50. Front edges of theside board 50, the top board 60 and the bottom board 70 are respectivelybent inwardly to double over and form a side hem 51 a, a top hem 51 band a bottom hem 51 c. The side hem 51 a forms a plurality of L-shapedside hooks 52 a, corresponding to the locking openings 14 of the cage 1.The top hem 51 b forms a pair of L-shaped top hooks 52 b, correspondingto the top flange 21 of the cage 1. The bottom hem 51 c forms aplurality of L-shaped bottom hooks 52 c, corresponding to the bottomflange 22 of the cage 1. A top fringe 66 depends from a rear edge of thetop board 60. A pair of second through apertures 68 is defined inopposite sides of the top fringe 66, corresponding to the first throughapertures 34 of the cage 1. A side fringe 53 extends perpendicularlyinwardly from a rear edge of the side board 50. A pair of locking tabs54 (only one visible) extends perpendicularly inwardly from the sidefringe 53, corresponding to the locking slots 32 of the cage 1. A bottomfringe 75 extends perpendicularly upwardly from a rear edge of thebottom board 70. A second through bore 76 is defined near one side ofthe bottom fringe 75, corresponding to the first through bore 36 of thecage 1. A top bent plate 62 depends from the top board 60, adjacent alongitudinal free edge of the top board 60. A bottom bent plate 72extends upwardly from a longitudinal free edge of the bottom board 70. Apair of second through holes 64, 74 is respectively defined near frontedges of the top and bottom bent plates 62, 72, corresponding to thefirst through holes 24 of the cage 1.

[0021] Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the cage 1 isplaced in front of the cover 5. The cage 1 is rearwardly pushed into thecover 5 until the rear panel 30 of the cage 1 abuts the side, top andbottom fringes 53, 66, 75 of the cover 5. The side hooks 52 a of thecover 5 are engaged in the locking openings 14 of the cage 1. The tophooks 52 b of the cover 5 sandwich the top flange 21 of the cage 1 withthe top hem 51 b of the top board 60. The bottom hooks 52 c of the cover5 sandwich the bottom flange 22 of the cage 1 with the bottom hem 51 cof the bottom board 70. The locking tabs 54 of the cover 5 are engagedin the locking slots 32 of the cage 1. The side board 50 of the cover 5abuts the side panel 10 of the cage 1. The top and bottom boards 60, 70of the cover 5 are connected between the front and rear panels 20, 30 ofthe cage 1. Rivets (not shown) are respectively extended through thesecond through holes 64, 74 of the cover 5 and the first through holes24 of the front panel 20, the second through bore 76 of the cover 5 andthe first through bore 36 of the rear panel 30, and the second throughapertures 68 of the cover S and the first through apertures 34 of therear panel 30. The rivets form rivet joints between the cage 1 and thecover 5. The computer enclosure is thus completely assembled.

[0022] In the present invention, the cage 1 and the cover 5 are eachintegrally formed from a single sheet of metallic material. Gaps in thecomputer enclosure are therefore minimized, and EMI is accordinglyminimized. Optionally, in the present invention, the drive opening 27 isformed in the front panel 20 for receipt of the disk drive wherein theside panel 10 forms the protrusion 15 for engagement with one side ofthe inserted drive (not shown) and a stamped portion 25 of the frontpanel 20 from the opening 27 is parallel to the side panel 10 and formsthe protrusion 26 for engagement with the other side of the inserteddrive (not shown).

[0023] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in otherforms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the presentexample and embodiment is to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limitedto the details given herein.

1. A computer enclosure comprising: a cage integrally formed from asingle sheet of metallic material, the cage comprising a side panel anda rear panel perpendicular to the side panel, the side panel having aprojecting portion extending outwardly from a front portion thereof, theprojecting portion defining a plurality of locking openings, the rearpanel defining a locking slot; and a cover attached on the cage andcomprising a side board forming a plurality of side hooks engaging inthe locking openings respectively, and a tab engaging in the lockingslot.
 2. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cagefurther comprises a front panel having a top flange extending inwardlyfrom a top edge thereof, and a bottom flange extending inwardly from abottom edge thereof, and the cover further comprises a top board forminga top hook sandwiching the top flange with the top board, and a bottomboard forming a bottom hook sandwiching the bottom flange with thebottom board.
 3. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 2, whereinfront edges of the side board, the top board and the bottom board arerespectively bent inwardly to double over and form a side hem, a top hemand a bottom hem, and the side hooks, the top hook, and the bottom hookare respectively formed on the side hem, the top hem and the bottom hem.4. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front panelcomprises a side flange defining a pair of first through holes, the topboard comprises a top bent plate depending therefrom, the bottom boardcomprises a bottom bent plate extending upwardly therefrom, each of thetop and bottom bent plates defines a second through hole in alignmentwith a corresponding first through hole, and rivets extend through thesecond through holes and first through holes forming fixed jointsbetween the cover and the front panel.
 5. The computer enclosure asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the rear panel defines a first throughaperture in a top portion thereof, the cover further comprises a topfringe depending from a rear edge of the top board, the top fringedefines a second through aperture, and a rivet extends through thesecond through aperture and the first through aperture forming a fixedjoint between the cover and the rear panel.
 6. The computer enclosure asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the rear panel further defines a firstthrough bore in a bottom portion thereof, the cover further comprises abottom fringe extending upwardly from a rear edge of the bottom board,the bottom fringe defines a second through bore, and a rivet extendsthrough the second through bore and the first through bore forming afixed joint between the cover and the rear panel.
 7. A method ofassembling a computer enclosure comprising the following steps: a)providing a cage, the cage being integrally formed from a single sheetof metallic material and comprising a front panel, a side panel, a rearpanel, and a projecting portion extending outwardly from a front portionof the side panel, the projecting portion defining a plurality oflocking openings, the front panel and the rear panel respectivelydefining a plurality of first voids; b) providing a cover, the covercomprising a side board forming a plurality of side hooks in a frontportion thereof, the cover defining a plurality of second voids; c)placing the cage in front of the cover and rearwardly pushing the cageto cause the side hooks to engage in the locking openings; and d)extending rivets through the second voids and the first voidsrespectively to form fixed joints between the cover and the cage.
 8. Themethod as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rear panel further defines alocking slot, and the side board further forms a tab engaging in thelocking slot.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the frontpanel comprises a side flange, the cover further comprises a top boardand a bottom board, a top bent plate depends from the top board and isfixedly engaged with a top portion of the side flange, and a bottom bentplate extends upwardly from the bottom board and is fixedly engaged witha bottom portion of the side flange.
 10. The method as claimed in claim9, wherein the front panel further comprises a top flange and a bottomflange, the top board comprises a top hem forming a plurality of tophooks sandwiching the top flange with the top board, and the bottomboard comprises a bottom hem forming a plurality of bottom hookssandwiching the bottom flange with the bottom board.
 11. The method asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the top board forms a top fringe fixedlyengaged with a top portion of the rear panel, and the bottom board formsa bottom fringe fixedly engaged with a bottom portion of the rear panel.12. A computer enclosure comprising: a cage defining a U-likeconfiguration and integrally formed from a metal sheet, said cageincluding front and rear panels parallel to each other, and a side panelperpendicularly connecting to both said front and rear panels; and acover generally defining another U-like configuration and integrallyformed from another metal sheet, said cover generally including top andbottom boards parallel to each other, and a side board perpendicularlyconnected to both said top and bottom panels; wherein in assembling,said cage cooperates with said cover to substantially veil an exteriorof said enclosure except one side opposite to said side panel.
 13. Theenclosure as claimed in claim 12, wherein said cage is assembled to thecover in a direction perpendicular to both said front and rear panels.14. The enclosure as claimed in 12, wherein said side panel and saidside board are overlapped with each other in a direction perpendicularto both said side panel and said side board.
 15. A cage integrallyformed from a metal sheet for use with a cover to form an enclosure,comprising: front and rear panels parallel to each other, and a sidepanel perpendicularly connecting to both said front and rear panels;said front panel defining an drive opening, for receipt of a disk drive,with a portion of said front panel stamped from said opening, saidportion being bent to be parallel to said side panel; and means formedon the side panel and the portion for engagement with two sides of saiddisk drive, respectively.